Screw driver



Jan. 2, 1940.

s. J. cox 2,185,910

scm-zw muvga Filed Aug. 14, 1937 I F158. b F/a.9.

10 FIGJZ. 1:16.13

INVENTOR" SETH J. 60X

v ATTORNEY 110 and la me i h an; aii s.

Patented Jan. 2 1940 inventionl relafies'ltof improvements in r d v rsiand e ifi a s jef sc ten of t e n te ed sprain, 1 92 and bent, 1925,1bbth r h said patents" respectthes nrpcse or sc rew drivers, whereas the invention described pte: foruse with many other ty p s of k t c ws; a d armt 41mm n nt alga vantage, h b t dfth p e e ltiel s ib is asep a to be ma la inres i dfi 'it i 11:16 m veme t/Within its t ari qasi s 1 k.

. and 1.48? the c wath-a pa in e, .n a slele iaeei t iaws b -t e s hand which grips the handle; whereas in' the former constructions, the bit is not adapted to be moved by the same hand'which grasps the handle of the tool. Furthermore, in the present invention, the bit may be provided with any suitablyformed point which is adapted to engage and to revolubly actuate any screw-threaded device, or

accessory, that is provided with a slot, a socket,

a tang or equivalent feature, adapted to'be engaged and revolubly actuated by said point, or the equivalent thereof;

However, notwithstanding these improvements,

the present implement is herein still designated as a screw driver, for convenience of classification, and a suificiently close designation as to utility.

The construction of my improved screw driver is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of my improved implement with the jaws thereof in their outermost, open" position, and illustrating the new, or one-hand actuator for said bit and the associated jawmeniber, both of which are adapted to move longitudinally within their tubular shank or casing. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing, in assembled relation, and removed from the tubular casing,

the bit, the jaws, and the actuating stem, which stem extends from the inner end of said jaws into or adjacent to the handle of the implement. Fig. 3 is a view of the adjacent side of Fig; 2,

with the near jaw removed to illustrate more clearly the connected relation between said stem and the return end of said jaws.

Fig. 4 is an illustration in which the tubular casing of the implement is shown in longitudinal section, with the hit, its associated jaws and the 5 actuating stem shown in elevation, and at the es rilsirif addition i an a a sid readies-en si amaica 9 th tota h t show i 'gJio illustrates a bit l in actuative relation with the type of valve which may be removed from the stem-shown in Fig. '7 after the cap is removed in the manner thereshown. Fig. 11 illustrates the type and form of end or the bit 4 shown in Fig. 10. 25

Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 are a side view and an end view, respectively, of the form of bit l adapted for the actuation of a socket set screw having a hexagonal socket, but other forms of socket and corresponding bit points or tangs are equally with- 30 in the scope of my inventive idea. The implement shown in the drawing comprises certain details. which are assembled and cooperate in the following manner: The form of bit which is adapted for use with a 35 screw having a slotted head is indicated by the numeral I; it is rectangular in cross section, and is provided with a clearance 2 for occupancy by a stop-projection 3, formed from one side or leg 01' the bifurcate jaw structure and projecting later- 0 ally, inwardly therefrom into said clearance for g the purpose of preventing accidental displacement of the bit and limiting the relatively longitudinal movements thereof with respect to said jaw structure by contact with the end walls 3 of 4 the clearance 2; said jaw structure is a unitary bifurcate element composed of spring steel, the free ends'of which are formed into the inwardly-projecting jaws 4, 4'; the rearward, junctional end 5 of said jaws connects them togetherat 'a 50 right angle thereto, so as to form a square, closed, inner end, the object of which will presently appear.

One edge of said head 5, ofsaid jaws, is removed as shown at I, in Fig. 3, tofacilitate the 5 engagement of the remaining portion of said head 5, by the adjacent portion of said stem 6, there being a transverse slot 6' extending across said stem for the reception of said remaining head-portion, and the longitudinal actuation of said jaw-structure.

Said jaws and actuating stem are mounted within a tubular casing 8, in which they are adapted to have longitudinal movement for the purpose of extending and opening said jaws to receive a screw or-other element therebetween, and then to retract and close said jaws to engage said element, and to retain the same in revolubly actuative engagement with the related end of said bit I, as shown in Fig. 5.

In the previous forms of this implement, as disclosed in the patents designated, it is necessary to actuate the bit into its element-engaging position by pushing the same inwardly, at the same time and with the element or screw that is to be engaged thereby, thus making it necessary for the user to use both hands in using and manipulating the implement; in the present form, the stem 6 is provided, which extends rearwardly into actuative proximity to the handle 9, and at said proximity, a longitudinally-extending slot I is formed through said casing 8, and a short section of casing ll, having an internal diameter or dimensions, such as to adapt it to be mounted upon and to slide easily longitudinally of said main casing, is supplied, as shown at [0 in Fig. or instead of this construction, the ferrule, as H of the manipulating handle 9, may be supplied with a longitudinally disposed slot ID; in either case, a suitable engaging pin or screw as l2, carried by said section or said ferrule is arranged in actuative relation to said stem, and by this means the thumb of the user of the implement which grasps the handle-may be employed to cause the longitudinal movement of said stem, and thereto attached jaws; by this arrangement a one-hand implement is provided.

It is not my intention to confine this invention to a form of bit for use with the common form 5 of wood screw, since any of the other forms of bit shown in the drawing having a modified form of point, may be readily substituted.

By the omission of the stop-projection 3, and the substitution of a readily removable screw 16 10 in place thereof the bits maybe thereby adapted for ready removability, and replacement by other bits having a point of a different form, such as are shown in the drawing, or variations thereof as may be desired.

I claim the following:

A tool of the screw driver type comprising a hollow tubular shank of rectangular cross section having a hand grip on one end and being open at its other end, a jaw member of unitary bifurcate 7 form slidable longitudinally in and through the open end of the shank and having a head disposed within the shank, a bit of rectangular cross section slidable longitudinally in and through the open end of the shank between the legs of said jaw member, cooperative means on said jaw member and bit for limiting relative longitudinal movement therebetween, a stem of rectangular cross section slidable longitudinally in said shank and extending from said jaw member sub-" stantially to said hand grip, said stem having a socket in its bit-adjacent end, the head of said jaw member being seated in said socket whereby the stem and jaw member are connected for movement longitudinally as a single unit, and-" actuator means on said stem and projecting laterally through said shank immediately adjacent said grip portion.

SETH J. COX. 

